Your opinions: Letters to the editor for Aug. 18

Diamond issue goes beyond politics

Editor:

Les Stewart should be applauded for his fine reporting discussing the history of domestic violence involving Russ Diamond, candidate for the 102nd House District. Voters have a right to know.

Diamond has been involved in three domestic situations resulting in the issuing of Protection from Abuse orders. One of the PFA orders was filed by an ex-wife and, another, just last year, by a girlfriend. Diamond was found guilty of violating the PFA for his wife by a Lebanon County judge. Another PFA was filed by Diamond against a different wife.

How many men do you know that have been involved in three PFA cases? Is this the type of person we want representing us? As co-district leaders on the Lebanon County GOP Committee, we said "no!" That is the reason why we were among the 40 members of the executive committee who voted to ask Diamond to withdraw.

The suggestion by Diamond and some of his supporters that this action was a result of a vendetta against him by a few people could not be further from the truth. But then again, Diamond seems to have a tough time with the truth. He has even gone so far as to blame the female victims of his abuse.

This decision was about putting principle before party. We made a decision that staying true to our values and beliefs was more important than any letter in front of a candidate's name.

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Justin Shuey and Tannon Miller, Lebanon

Do-something versus do-nothing Congress

Editor:

In an Aug. 12 opinion piece, a reader blames the country's woes on Democrats and advises voters to throw every Democrat out of office. Before heading to the polls, voters may want to look beyond ideological and party labels and consider performance when casting their votes.

The 2008 Congress, under Democratic leadership, was one of the most productive in recent memory. The Affordable Care Act was one of its products. Because of the ACA, millions of people now have health care insurance that was previously out of reach for them; young people can remain on their parents' health insurance policies while they finish their education; and emphasis is placed on preventive care. The law may not be perfect, and its effects have yet to be fully realized, but it is a basis for reform that forward thinking people of intelligence and good will can build upon.

Republicans have since taken control of the House of Representatives; we are on track to have what may be the least productive Congress in history. House Republicans seem intent on nothing but widening the partisan divide. House Speaker John Boehner cannot build a bipartisan consensus around any issue, and he cannot muster his own party behind legislation.

Americans are dismayed with Congress, and rightly so. The good news is that something can be done about it on Election Day. Rewarding bad performance by re-electing the same people over and over again on the basis of party or ideological labels won't fix Washington's woes - holding them accountable for their inaction will. The Congress we have, good or bad, is of our own making.